The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-12-10
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trial dellverances eyer made to the country.
II is In no sense theoretical; it accepts and
treats an exceptional "condi.ion" of the
country that must be met, regardless of
ideal theories Of revenue or trade. and
the President hews TO the line in his own
rugged way in defining the relations OF
manufacturers, workngmen and consum-
ers to each other and to the general inter
ests of the whole country. No specific
recommendation is made of modification of
our internal taxes, as they do not apply 10
the actual necessaries of life, while Gus
toms taxes, when unwisely levied, impose
eNtortionate eXactiOns upon consumers and
deprive labor of much, and sometimes more
than all. OF the advantages given il by pro-
tective duties. The question of reduction
of internal taxes Is left to Congress with
ont positive Executive suggestion. Just to
the extent that this feature of the message
shall be accepted as averse to the reduction
of internal taxes to aid in reducing REVENGE,
1t is n blunder. | believe il is to that ex-
tent a blunder on the merits of the quest
ion; am sure It is a blunder that will
hinder rather than aid practical results,
because internal tax reduction is much
stronger than tariff revision as distinct
propositions in Congress, and only by
harmonizing the two theories can revenue
reduction be achieyed
THE PROTECTION OF LABOR.
While the President urges the thorough
revision of our tariff duties to attain reve-
nue. reduction, he is most emphatic, in re-
peated passages, in demanding that our
manufacturers and the industry they EN-
plOy shall be fully protected He declares
81 L., e a..
interests of American labor engaged in
manufacture shall be carefully considered
as well rs the preservation of our manufac-
tures," and in the same paragraph he says
thPt ''it may becalled protection or by any
other name, but relief from hards hips and
dangers of our present tariff laws should be
devised with especial precation against i'm
perilmg the existence of our manufacturing
interests In another paragraph he SAYS
that "all will acknowledge the force of an
| argument which involves the welfare and
liberal compensation of our laboring peo-
pie" and he adds that our labor. "as it
lies at the founda ion of our development
and progress, is entitled, without affectation
or hypocrisy, to the utmost regard" and
that ''the standard of our lahorers' life
should not be measured by that of any
other country less favored, and they are
entitled to their full share of all our advant-
ages In another paragraph he says that
'the reduction of taxation demanded
should be so measured as not to necessitate
or Justify either the loss of employment by
the workingman nor the lessening of his
wages and in the closing paragraph on the
subject he says that "these things can and
should be done with safety to all our indus
tries, without danger to the opportunity for
remuneratiye labor, which our working
4, GN al.
our people, by cheapening their means of
subsistence and increasing the measure of
their comforts"
NO TENDENCY TO FREE TRADE.
When it is considered that President
Cleveland keeps so distinctly in view the
maintenance of our manufactures and the
labor employed therein, all assumption of
free trade theory or purpose perishes from
the minds of the. American people; and
when it is further considered that the re-
duction of protective duties proposed by
him would not 90 below the standard of
protection fixed by the distinctively Repub.
| lcan protective tariff of 1861, known as the
| Morrill, tariff act, the people will better
understand what is meant by the tariff re-
duction to reduce the revenues, In point
of fact, any reduction of duties in indus
tries which are in competition with foreign
industries, below the standard of full pro
lection to both capital and labor, would in
crease rather than reduce the revenues on
those articles. Thus when the principle of
maintaining our manufacturing industries
is recognized, tariff revision to reduce
revenue must maintain the standard of
actual protection to avoid increased reve-
nue.. The chief obstacle to wise tariff re-
visonis in the fact that the necessities of
war compelled largely increased duties on
many manufactured articles, and manufac-
turers are reluctant to assent to any reduc-
! ton from war taxes. The fact that many
articles of home necessity could and would
be produced cheaper than they are now
| furnished to consumers Is shown in the
pointed reference of the President to the
rapidly multiplying trusts or combinations
which are intended to maintain arbitrary
and extortionate prices to consumers. Tar
iff revision is called for that will not only
protect manufacturers in legitimate profits.
but at the same time largely return the
present cost of articles which are common
necessities of the people.
THE. E.ENLARGMENT OF THE FREE LIST.
The President, without specifying raw
materials except wool, obviously looks to a
very decided enlargement of the free list.
The principle will not be disputed, as en-
! larged free raw materials are a necessity to
cheaper our industrial products and cheap
en- necessaries; but it is on this point that
| the chief trouble will arise in adjusting a
new tariff. There are some raw materials
which, while if put on the free list, would
greatly benefit our manufacturing industri-
! -. Al, LII.
tries; and herein will come the necessity for
concession to attain agreement. Some ar
| ticles can be put on the free list now with
out injury to any which could not have
| been made free ten years ago without Grip
! pling industry, and Others are in the same
! process of transition and will sooner or lat
er be entirely independent of protection. In
solving this problem, the President holds
sternly to the accepted doctrine of ''the
greatest good to the greatest number" and
| il will devOlye upon Congress to apply the
! principle justly in the admittedly indispens-
able reduction Of our revenues. The mes
sage will inspire more discussion and in
vestigation of the exact relations of the
tariff o capital industry and trade than
| any document that eyer emanated from the
Chief Magistrate on the subject, and with
the principle of protectan to both manu-
features and labor distinctly asserted as The
basis of tariff revision, the intelligence of
the country will speedily define the line OF
judicious tariff reduction.
CARIsLE's MANLY UTTERANCE.
Speaker Carlisle is known to be one of
the most sincere and manly of our public
men, and his distinct declaration in his ad-
dress on taking the chair Monday, in
favor of the protection OF the labor of the
land in revising our revenue laws has made
a profound impression upon Congress as it
will upon the country. 1t is no surrender
of con'i iction or departure from policy on
the part of Speaker Carlisle; it is simply
the self-adjustment of an enlightened and
patriotic statesman to the practical solution
of a question that involves the general
prosperity OF the people. His language is
free from all ambiguity; his words are OBJ
viously chosen to convey his exact mean
u